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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  Rubber
Posted by: mcornetto (Guest), February 27th, 2011, 6:25am
Yes, I watched it.  The movie about the tire with psychokinesis.  What did I think?  Well, it certainly isn't going to be for everyone.  I probably won't watch it again.  It definitely wasn't my favourite movie in the world.  But I liked it.  Some parts of it I liked a real lot.

This movie is not a horror movie.  It isn't even art-horror.  Those expecting either of those are going to be completely disappointed.  This is absurdist cinema, or like they call it in the movie the cinema of no reason, like the Theatre of the Absurd that was around from the 1940s to the 1960s.  And I have to tell you it was refreshing to see something experimental and, well, absurd.  You're going to have to understand and have respect for the Theatre of the Absurd to truly appreciate this movie.   And it also helps to try to think like a Frenchman when you watch it (since this movie is basically a French film that was made in English in the US).

This movie starts in a very surreal fashion.  I loved the first 5 minutes.  Then it proceeds to break the fourth wall with an intro about the cinema of no reason.  Further into the movie it breaks every other wall a film has.   Parts of this movie were very creative, parts were fairly usual and predictable, parts were quite funny. My biggest complaint about it was that since the movie disassembles itself so well, you never really feel that much a part of it. You aren't sure of your role.  So you never get to feel much for Robert the psycho-kinetic tire.

But I'm not really sure this movie is about Robert or a tire at all.  There could be some hidden meaning in it, some commentary the French are making on Americans that just goes over the head of all us English speakers.  Then again, the movie could be there for just what it says - no reason.

Enjoy - and beware of tires.      
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), February 27th, 2011, 9:22am; Reply: 1
I watched about fifteen minutes of this, before stopping.  Absurd?  Artistic?  Pretentious bullshit?

The first five minutes was nothing new.  While I can't think of any examples off hand, having a character talk to the camera has been done before.  Most likely, it was done in a bad film where the director thought he was doing something cool.


Phil
Posted by: mcornetto (Guest), February 27th, 2011, 3:20pm; Reply: 2
I have to tell you Phil.  Knowing the rest of this movie...I think it's hysterically funny that you turned it off after 15 minutes.   As a matter of fact, it gives me insight into what the movie was trying to say.
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), February 27th, 2011, 3:33pm; Reply: 3
I think it's a case of The Emperor's New Film.


Phil
Posted by: mcornetto (Guest), February 27th, 2011, 3:38pm; Reply: 4
Nope.  Not at all.  You played your part and the movie definitely refers to your character.  My respect for this movie has increased.   I understand what it was about, now.
Posted by: Electric Dreamer, March 11th, 2011, 12:39pm; Reply: 5
I was pretty stoked to check out this ditty once it hit VoD.
Mr. Oizo's soundtrack has been on my music shuffle for weeks.
I wasn't really trying to look for reason in a psychokinetic killer tire movie.
I dug how the film dares you to define or apply logic to its parts.

The use of the spectators was chuckle worthy.
I like the "just die already so we can stop this play acting" approach to the audience.
Rubber does commit the sin of having a laggy second act in a 82 minute movie.
If your film is that short, the chaff should already be separated from the wheat.

An amenable absurdist journey through devil may care cinema.
This would be an neat counter point film to Enter the Void.

I wonder if there will be a sequel...Rubbers!

E.D.
Posted by: James McClung, July 5th, 2011, 12:21pm; Reply: 6
Just saw this.

The more I think about this film, the more I get annoyed by it. I almost don't want to say anything about it. I'm even more reluctant to say anything I "thought" about it. "Thought" is something that seems to have a lot to do with it, one way or another.

There's an implication in the air that if you don't like/get the film, you're somehow uncool/not open-minded. I'm not sure if that implication comes from the film, fans of the film or both. Whatever the case, I don't like it.

Anyway, I can't say I enjoyed it really as anything. As a film about a killer tire, commentary on audience participation or a genuine celebration of "no reason," it had its moments but I thought it was, for the most part, boring.

It was also a great showcase for DSLRs (Canon 5D, to be specific). Just goes to show you don't need a $20,000 camera to make a quality-looking film.
Posted by: albinopenguin, July 5th, 2011, 12:42pm; Reply: 7
funny this thread should pop up. just talked about it on another thread regarding instant netflix films.

i actually thought this film would have been A LOT better had the whole commentary bits been left out. i wanted to see more of the tire and i wanted him to kick ass throughout the entire movie. when the tire stopped rolling, the fun stopped. furthermore, i felt as though i was being spoon fed. i "get" it, now please dont spell it out for me. there was nothing else to say after the opening monologue, yet they kept on commenting on their own film. i would have much rather seen a more grindhouse-esque film (even if it was a tire) rather than some semi-pretencious art flick with brief moments of ultra violence splashed in.
Posted by: kabbottjr, April 6th, 2013, 11:53pm; Reply: 8
I have to say that about 15 minutes into this movie I kept asking myself why I was watching a movie about a killer tire.  However, before I knew it, I was so far into the movie that i couldn't turn it off.  I had to watch the conclusion, I had to know what ultimately would happen to the tire.  

By the time the movie was over, I was pleased with myself that I watched the entire thing.  No, it wasn't one of the best movies ever.  However, it was something relatively unique that I enjoyed watching.  I don't think there really is any reason for this movie, and that is the point.  Sometimes we over analyze things, we really should just accept them for what they are.  Of course, I could be completely wrong, and there really is some super deep meaning to this movie.

I would argue that this is a film that everyone should watch at least once.  It is just really good at somehow grabbing your attention when you really don't want it to.
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